How It Works-Amazing Vehicles

ON THE MAP

Harrier deployment

The Harrier is operated worldwide by

many military organisations in the

following countries:

allowing it to take-off and land

vertically as well as hover, to forward,

allowing the Harrier to drift

back wards. A ll nozzles are moved by a

series of shafts and chain drives,

which ensures that they operate in

unison and the angle and thrust are

determined in-cockpit by the pilot.

The control nozzle angle is

determined by an additional lever

positioned alongside the conventional

throttle and includes fi xed settings for

vertical take-off (this setting ensures

that true vertical positioning is

maintained in relation to aircraft

altitude), short-take off (usef ul on

aircraft carriers) and various others,

each tailored to aid the pilot’s

control of the Harrier in challenging

fl ight conditions.

Of course, the nozzle lever can be

incrementally altered too by the pilot,

as in order to be able to fl y the Harrier,

fi ne control of the throttle in relation

to the nozzle lever is central, adding

an extra dimension to any potential

pilot’s training.

As well as the vectoring engine

nozzles, the Harrier also requires

additional reaction control nozzles in its

nose (downward fi ring), wingtips

(dow nward and upward fi ring) and tail

(dow n and lateral fi ring) in order to

remain stable once airborne. These

nozzles are supplied with high-pressure

air fi ltered from the engine and

distributed through a system of pipes

that run through the aircraft. Controlled

through valves, this sourcing and

utilisation of compressed air allows the

pilot to adjust the Harrier’s movement in

pitch, roll or yaw.

This system is energised once the

main engine nozzles are partially

vectored and the amount of

compressed air fi ltered to the anterior

nozzles is determined by airspeed

and altitude.

1 UK

2 Spain

3 Italy

4 India

5 Thailand

6 USA

2

1

3

4

One of the rotatable vector nozzles

necessary to lift the Harrier vertically

A shot of the

Rolls-Royce

Pegasus engine

that powers

the Harrier

© Wy rdlight

Getting off

the ground...

6

5

1. Stability
   In partnership with the main vector
   nozzles, reaction control nozzles in
   the wing tips, nose and tail help
   maintain stability in the air.
   2. Thrust
   The Pegasus engine evenly distributes the
   engine’s massive thrust across the four main
   vector nozzles, providing lift and balance.
   3. Moving forward
   Once requisite vertical thrust has been
   achieved, the Harrier’s pilot then
   gradually rotates the vector nozzles to
   achieve for ward momentum.


2. Air intakes
   Central to the Harrier’s V TOL
   capabilities is the distribution
   by its engine of high-pressure
   air across all of its multi-
   directional nozzles. This air is
   drawn in through the Harrier’s
   dual air intakes.

DID YOU KNOW? Six Harriers were lost during the Falklands conflict, all from ground fire and accidents